Major League Record Book: Wins in a Season

Today we move our attention from the hitters over to the pitchers who have both pitched in the Valley League and the major leagues. There are only half the categories for pitchers than hitters… and we’ll start with the much-maligned category of wins.

2006-2018

1

Ryan Yarbrough

Luray ’12

2018

16

2

Tyler Thornburg

Winchester ’08

2016

8

Chris Devenski

Woodstock ’11

2017

8

Chad Kuhl

New Market ’12

2017

8

5

Brandon Beachy

Woodstock ’08

2011

7

6

David Carpenter

Covington ’04

2014

6

Austin Gomber

Luray ’12

2018

6

8

Brandon Beachy

Woodstock ’08

2012

5

Chris Perez

Staunton ’04

2013

5

Will Harris

Staunton ’03

2015

5

Chad Kuhl

New Market ’12

2016

5

Will Harris

Staunton ’03

2018

5

Chad Kuhl

New Market ’12

2018

5

14

Chris Perez

Staunton ’04

2011

4

David Carpenter

Covington ’04

2013

4

Will Harris

Staunton ’03

2013

4

Chris Devenski

Woodstock ’11

2016

4

Drew Rucinski

Luray ’08-10

2018

4

Ryan Yarbrough‘s 2018 might be remembered forever as a ground-breaking season; Ryan was most often the pitcher to replace the Tampa Bay Rays’ “opener,” and pitch the bulk of the middle innings. In his rookie season, Ryan went 16-6, 3.91, with a 1.290 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, and 7.8 K/9 in 147 1/3 innings pitched.

All-Time

1

Mike Caldwell

Charlottesville ’68

1978

22

2

Tom Browning

New Market ’80-81

1985

20

3

Tom Browning

New Market ’80-81

1988

18

Jimmy Key

Winchester ’82

1993

18

5

Mike Caldwell

Charlottesville ’68

1982

17

Jimmy Key

Winchester ’82

1987

17

Walt Terrell

Staunton

1987

17

Jimmy Key

Winchester ’82

1994

17

9

Mike Caldwell

Charlottesville ’68

1979

16

Rick Honeycutt

Charlottesville ’73

1983

16

Jimmy Key

Winchester ’82

1991

16

Jimmy Key

Winchester ’82

1997

16

Ryan Yarbrough

Luray ’12

2018

16

14

Tom Browning

New Market ’80-81

1989

15

Tom Browning

New Market ’80-81

1990

15

Greg Hibbard

Staunton

1993

15

17

Mike Caldwell

Charlottesville ’68

1974

14

Jimmy Key

Winchester ’82

1985

14

Jimmy Key

Winchester ’82

1986

14

Tom Browning

New Market ’80-81

1986

14

Greg Hibbard

Staunton

1990

14

Tom Browning

New Market ’80-81

1991

14

Mike Maroth

Staunton ’96-97

2005

14

I’m going to focus on Tom Browning‘s 1985 instead of Mike Caldwell; Mike will get his moment in a few days. In his first full season in the major leagues, Tom went 20-9, 3.55, with a 1.205 WHIP, 2.5 BB/9, and 5.3 K/9 in a whopping 261 1/3 innings pitched for the Reds, good for a 4.1 WAR. He finished 2nd in the Rookie of the Year voting (behind Vince Coleman), and 6th in the Cy Young Award voting (Doc Gooden won unanimously).